Dallas Keuchel will make his major league debut Sunday for Astros

ARLINGTON – With Bud Norris still not recovered from his sprained knee, lefthander Dallas Keuchel will start for the Astros in his major league debut Sunday against the Texas Rangers.

Keuchel got the call he somewhat expected after getting scratched from his Thursday start for Class AAA Oklahoma City. He was told he was getting the call Saturday morning and made the short trip up from Round Rock, where the RedHawks were on the road.

“It was kind of a surreal feeling,” Keuchel said after RedHawks manager Tony DeFrancesco knocked on his door at 7:30 a.m. this morning. “I kind of knew something was up, and it was a nice wake-up call.”

Keuchel, a seventh-round pick in 2009 out of the University of Arkansas, is hardly a hard thrower and relies on command and movement to be successful. He has a 4.26 ERA in 13 starts for Oklahoma City with exactly half his earned runs coming in back-to-back starts at Reno and Colorado Springs May 19 and 24.

A groundball specialist, he gets a lot of contact with just 46 strikeouts and 15 walks in 80 1/3.

“Set aside the two starts on the west coast, I think it’s been pretty good,” Keuchel said of his 2012 campaign. “I’m commanding the ball right now and doing all the things I want to do, so I’m pretty pleased right now.”

The Astros will make a corresponding move before Sunday’s game to get Keuchel on the roster. Adding him to the currently full 40-man roster should not be an issue, as Sergio Escalona, who is out for the season, could be moved off of it and onto the 60-day disabled list.

Norris still a question mark

Dallas Keuchel’s arrival for a spot start came after Bud Norris hadn’t shown manager Brad Mills enough in a bullpen session to declare him healthy.

Norris sprained his knee in his latest start, but the genesis of his problems were probably a May start in Colorado when he struggled through hip flexor pain.

“After talking with him and the trainers, it seems like it goes back to that hip flexor and that the knee was a problem because of the hip flexor,” Mills said. “As we go through this thing, he was still tentative when it comes down to it, and you can’t be that way. The last thing we need for him to do is to change his mechanics because he feels that way.”

Lee, his bat return to lineup

Carlos Lee will be back in the lineup for the Astros on Sunday after a three-game rehab assignment, going 5-for-10.

Brett Wallace, the starter at first base in Lee’s absence, went 12-for-36 (.333) with five extra-base hits. He was optioned back to Class AAA Oklahoma City.

Wallace will presumably continue playing some first base and some third base at Oklahoma City.

“It’s obviously not unexpected with Carlos coming off so you’re kind of prepared for it,” Wallace said. “But you definitely want to be here and be part of the guys and I did feel comfortable and had swung the bat well. It’s just part of the game, and I have to keep handling my business and hopefully get back here.”

Lee’s return should help the team. The Astros have 156 strikeouts in 14 June games, an average of 11.1 per game. Lee is the hardest hitter in the NL to fan with one strikeout every 20.7 at bats.

<center><b> June 17: Rangers 9, Astros 3</b></center> Astros designated hitter Carlos Lee, in his first game since coming off the disabled list, disputes a called strike with home plate umpire Dale Scott. less

<center><b> June 17: Rangers 9, Astros 3</b></center> Astros designated hitter Carlos Lee, in his first game since coming off the disabled list, disputes a called strike with home plate umpire Dale ... more

Photo: TIM SHARP / Associated Press

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Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel made his big league debut in his start against the Rangers, allowing just one run in his five innings.

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel made his big league debut in his start against the Rangers, allowing just one run in his five innings.

Photo: Rick Yeatts / Getty Images

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Astros third baseman Brian Bixler applies a late tag to Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler on a double steal.

Astros third baseman Brian Bixler applies a late tag to Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler on a double steal.

Photo: TIM SHARP / Associated Press

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Rangers starter Colby Lewis surrendered one run in his seven frames.

Rangers starter Colby Lewis surrendered one run in his seven frames.

Photo: Rick Yeatts / Getty Images

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Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel held the hard-hitting Rangers to one run in five innings, but he did not factor into the decision in his major league debut.

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel held the hard-hitting Rangers to one run in five innings, but he did not factor into the decision in his major league debut.

Photo: Rick Yeatts / Getty Images

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Astros catcher Jason Castro stomps back to the dugout after a called third strike.

Astros catcher Jason Castro stomps back to the dugout after a called third strike.